I've noticed a few changes around the property. The fence rails have been removed. These used to deter deer from getting into the garden but with no garden left, there's no reason for the fence to remain in place. In the past, Pap removed and restored them when he needed to get in and out.
Pap still has the brute strength to remove the rails, but his body often strikes back against him when he makes attempts to do so, sending him to bed with an elevated heart rate or cramping his muscles. The family decided it was best just to remove them for good.
Pap no longer shoots at the deer with his rifle. At his age, with his eyesight and motor skills fading, there's not much he can do to stop them from encroaching on his space. So close to the woods, it's always been hard to keep them out. They come and go as they please now.